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A lesbian-positive film
By Joel David Launched during the start of the current decade, the Vivamax arm of Viva Films swiftly dominated the subscription streaming services of Philippine cinema and never let up since. The answer will be obvious to anyone who checks out Netflix and several other so-called over-the-top (meaning bypassing middle agencies) services: specialized products, less […]
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‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ are the heart and soul of this action film
By Wendell Gaa “Deadpool & Wolverine” is currently my favorite movie of the year so far, and with good reason. The past few years have been a rather difficult period for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and for Disney as a whole too, with films notably underperforming both at the box office and with audience […]
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‘The Hearing:’ An unpolished film with a timely social justice message
By Joel David The twentieth edition of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival actually featured a number of entries that betokened its coming of age, inevitably disappointing certain sectors who would have preferred more of their type of cinema. One could construct a formal spectrum ranging from documentary to mainstream-starred feature and find various netizen voices […]
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Mother knew best
By Joel David One of the first things that elderly netizens remarked when news of Lily Monteverde’s death broke out last August 4 was “how fittingly dramatic,” or variations thereof. Her husband, Leonardo “Remy” Monteverde, had died barely a week earlier. Even the later qualification that “Mother” Lily was also in serious intensive-care condition when […]
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Philippines’s ‘Cross My Heart’ wins Best Short Film at NYAFF
The 23rd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) wrapped up a blockbuster 17-day run on July 28 with screenings of over 90 films featuring new and classic titles from China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The Best Short Film Award went to “Cross My Heart and […]
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Maturity and its many conflicting emotions
By Wendell Gaa “Inside Out 2” which is currently the highest grossing film internationally this summer is one of those few films which, in my view, outshines its brilliant predecessor. The original “Inside Out” from 2015 was no doubt one of the most innovative movies in the history of animated cinema and it is one […]
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Against the backdrop of the NYC skyline, PHL Independence Day marches on
By Cristina DC Pastor The parade weaved the crowd together, one organization after another: The nurses with the Knights of Rizal with the indigenous dancers with the provincial floats with the teachers with the pageant beauties in their flashy tiaras and so on, their magnificent colors blending into the lingering line of marchers. It was […]
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‘Granny Prostitutes:’ Sex workers and the stigma of aging
By Cristina DC Pastor “Granny Prostitutes” – titled “Lola Magdalena” in the Philippines – is the story of five maturing sex workers who live together in an old ‘bahay sa tisa,’ inherited by Bela (played Liza Lorena) from her deceased paramour. The semi-retired prostitutes also include Dalena (played by Gloria Diaz), Luningning (Pia Moran), Corazon […]
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NYAFF opens July 12 with Philippine film ‘Granny Prostitutes’ et al in lineup
This year’s New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), from July 12–22, features more than 90 new and classic titles from China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and beyond, with nine world premieres, 12 international premieres, and 38 North American premieres. The Philippines will be represented by the […]